By Bob Berry

One thing for sure. If you read the Keener blogs regularly, you know I have a major fascination for cars, hot cars.

From hotties by Chevy and Dodge, to Dream Cruise faves and even Roger Penske’s Indy Pace Cars; if there’s a sweet ride out there, it’s bound to catch my eye, and become part of the Keener blog.

And today’s entry should give us all an extra sense of Pride in “The D”. This past Thursday, Ford’s Flat Rock Assembly Plant, the home of the Mustang, rolled the first 2015 Shelby GT350 and GT350R’s off the line. Looks cool, sounds cool, is cool. And only 2015 100 GT350s and 37 GT350Rs will be built, so if you’re looking for a Mustang with a V-8, 526 horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque, you better hurry!

And I better hurry and win the lottery. A big rollover lottery!

By Bob Berry

This is so totally cool-and it took the coolest guy in the room to do it.

Bloomfield Hills’ Roger Penske had a parade on Woodward Thursday. And not just any, but a parade of the SIXTEEN Indianapolis Pace Cars he has won in his legendary racing career!

Now that’s cruisin’ Woodward!

And who did he get to drive those cars? How about names like 4-time winners Rick Mears and Al Unser, 3-time winners Helio Castroneves and Bobby Unser?  Plus 2-time winner Al Unser Jr. .and Rochester Hills’ Brad Keselowski, the 2012 NASCAR Champion.  To name a few.

Proving why he’s the boss, “The Captain”, a former sports car racing champion, smartly put ’em all in his rear-view mirror, leading the parade with  a 1972 Cutlass 442. That car was his first Indy Pace Car “trophy”, collected after winning that year’s race with the late Mark Donohue.

Roger Penske has made a huge impact on Metro Detroit over the years, going back to his dealership on Telegraph Road, his ownership of Detroit Diesel, and his vision-which helped bring the Super Bowl to The D and the annual Indy Car race to Belle Isle.  Read all about the Thursday’s parade and learn what drives Roger Penske with this story from ESPN. Or check the video, and go fishtailing with “Bad Brad” and WXYZ-TV Action News.

By Bob Berry

I got to thinking about cruising music today, “gotta-have’s” for the roll-up to Saturday’s Woodward Dream Cruise. Motown, done. Beatles, done. Soul, from Memphis and Muscle Shoals, Philly, New Orleans.

And hey, load up the local heroes! The Rationals. The Shy Guys. Tim Tam and The Turn-on’s, SRC, The Woolies and The Underdogs! Plus Key Man of Music Pat St. John’s fave: Richard the the Young Lions!

But what about something to cut through revs and the rumble of a well tuned set of Hedman Headers? Try some Dave Clark Five, the British Invasion version of the Big Block V-8 on those woofers and tweeters!

Dave just pounding his drums into the floor. Mike Smith’s great lead vocals (with lots of reverb). Denis Payton blowing up his saxophone, plus Lenny Davidson’s lead guitar and Rick Huxley’s fat bass,  all mixed with an extra touch of compression that even the Motown engineers would have been proud of!

Yeah, the DC5 were Go Big or Go Home LOUD! And they sounded great at The Totem Pole and Ted’s and they’ll sound great Saturday. Here’s a reminder, in 2:41.

By Bob Berry

We’ve had a sort of informal countdown to the Woodward Dream Cruise going on here at Keener13.com highlighting some cool new cars coming from the Motor City’s Big Three.

There were the Chevy Twins, the Camaro convertible and 2016 Cruze. The Dodge Boys rockin’ the Hemi, with the new “Predator” spot for the 2015 Challenger and Hellcat.

And now, it’s the “Blue Oval’s” turn, as Ford previewed The Apollo Edition 2015 Mustang, in support of the 2015 Oshkosh Airshow . 627 horsepower, 540 pound-feet of torque, Ford Performance supercharger and shifter, sport-tuned suspension, six-piston Brembo brakes and  21-inch performance wheels. This is definitely NOT the 1967 Mustang of the Totem Pole parking lot, listening to Scotty Regan on Keener!

By the way, this is the 8th year Ford has supported the airshow’s youth aviation programs , with a unique, one-of-a-kind vehicle, guaranteed to make you drool. And perhaps own. Click here to open your wallet and bid!

By Bob Berry

We’re down to 37 days to the start of the 2015 Woodward Dream Cruise, and the gear heads are gearing up. A week or so ago, it was Chevy’s turn, with the intro of the 2016 Camaro Convertible.

This week, it’s the Dodge Boys (and Girls!) turn.

Check out the extended version of a new ad for the Hemi-powered, 707 horsepower, window-rattlin’, tire-smokin’, ground-poundin’ Dodge Hellcat and Challenger. With a Viper thrown in for good measure!

Meet you on the corner of 10 Mile and Woodward. I’ll drive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCxehjcYwlc

And by the way.. If you’re feeling nostalgic for a Keener Dodge Boys memory from the 60s, you’ll love this classic TV commercial for the 1967 Coronet.

By Bob Berry

If you listen closely, you can hear it coming.
The 2015 Woodward Dream Cruise is barely 6 weeks away! And the buffers are polishing, the detailing meticulous, the planning and plotting for the perfect viewing area, or a sweet ride down M1 are revving up. And why not, for the Highest of Holy Days; when we as Detroiter’s, as members of the Crusin’ with Keener on Saturday night generation, celebrate the very DNA that made Motown The Motor City?

Well, here’s the best news of all. That DNA, is stronger than ever, and this week, GM’s Chevy division doubled down on the proof.

First up, after May’s stroke of genius intro of the 2016 Camaro on Belle Isle, was this week’s introduction of the 2016 Camaro Convertible.

Personally, I thought it was the bad boy of the week, until (cue Jan and Dean) the “New Girl In School” showed up.The 2016 Chevy Cruze!  And it’s is searing, stunning, turn heads and drop jaws, homecoming queen beautiful.

Bet on two things: Years from now, when the Motor City’s DNA is still crushing it worldwide, these two new Chevy’s will be the pride and joy of our Keener kids and grandkids own Dream Cruise!

And somewhere, Ernie and Mr. Merollis, Trader Ray and all the rest, are smiling.